Review: Kung Fu Panda 4
By Anthony Heron
Po with Kung Fu Panda’s new character Zhen voiced by Awkwafina
In the eight years since the release of the last Kung Fu Panda film, viewers have been treated to a renaissance of sorts in animated film. With critically acclaimed films from the “Spider-Verse” as well as Pixar’s “Encanto”, audiences have been reminded that family-friendly animated films are still capable of carrying both style and substance. The big question posed to Universal upon the release of Kung Fu Panda 4 is, does this newest entry contend with its contemporaries? Or should this nearly two-decade franchise be put to rest?
“Kung Fu Panda 4” follows the titular protagonist Po, as he must name a successor to his title of “Dragon Warrior”, in the midst of this, Po is forced to travel to new exotic lands, along with a fox named Zhen to chase down The Chameleon, a crime boss with dark ambitions.
The strength of these films has always been the voice acting, having lost the likes of Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, and Seth Rogen, a whole new cast of characters had to be brought in to make up for the lost star power. Jack Black as Po is the same as he’s been across the three previous films, managing to strike a balance between dim-witted and charming, although this isn’t a bad thing, this isn’t a franchise where things like character development are at the forefront.
Awkwafina isn’t an actress known for her range, and she doesn’t make the effort to change that perception in this film. Her consistent brand of humour, mainly consisting of sarcasm and snark is on full display here, whether you’ll enjoy her performance as Zhen is entirely dependent on whether you’re a fan of her previous performances. Viola Davis is the clear standout here, she lends her dialogue as The Chameleon a healthy dose of menace and venom, almost playing an animated version of her “Suicide Squad” character Amanda Waller.
The expectation of this film was that it would be funny, seeing as it stars Jack Black and Awkwafina, and is billed as a comedy. This unfortunately is an expectation that is unfulfilled. Some would excuse this, saying that the humour is aimed at a certain age demographic. However, it’s important to realise that in the 16 years since the first film, an entirely new generation of children have come and gone, raised with unprecedented internet access from an early age, in turn creating their own brand of humour, I struggle to believe that the comedy in this film would appeal to them.
It should be noted that most animated franchises make an effort to grow up with their audiences. “Toy Story 3” being a prime example, updating the humour and themes to cater to both the young audience and people who were young enough to have seen the original in 1995, this film does not make that same thematic shift, making it seem childish, even as a children’s film.
Where this film really shines is its visuals. Action and fight scenes are done well, the choreography is slick and creative, and a clear love for classic martial arts films is evident throughout. The character animation is also a highlight, as characters’ personalities are shown through their movements and mannerisms, while also staying true to the movements of their animals.
Predictable and oftentimes uninspired, Kung Fu Panda 4 is at best, a low-effort film made to be watched and then immediately forgotten by young children. At worst, this film is a soulless cash grab feasting on the corpse of a once loved franchise